Empties #12

Okay, enough procrastinating, I can write this...

Offers and the scents of the Aussie shampoo and conditioners lead me to buy many a bottle. I liked both the Mega and Miracle Moist ranges. They didn't leave my hair the softest, but they didn't leave it feeling dry either, and I experienced no build up with them. I still have plenty left in my hair drawer, and I would happily buy more.

The Aussie Miracle Hair Insurance Leave In Conditioner is one I've been through countless bottles of. I use it after I shower, it smells incredible, leaves my hair a little softer than it normally is, and you can put as much in as you please without any greasiness. I'm already on to my next bottle.

I dedicated an entire post to the Tresemme Platinum Strength Shampoo a while ago, I was that impressed with it. I still love it as it makes my hair insanely soft, but I've found that it weighs my hair down and makes it greasy looking after a couple weeks. Because of this, I switch to another shampoo is remove any build up, and go back to this after a short break. I'd definitely repurchase, and I've just bought the Deep Conditioning Treatment and Leave In Treatment from the same range. They have high ratings and positive reviews, so I'm looking forward to using them.

Lush Ultrabland is my number one cleanser at the moment, and I'm on to my third tub. It removes my makeup better than any cleanser I've tried, leaves it super moisturised, and doesn't sting my eyes in any way. Love.

I still have a fair bit of Lush's Lemony Flutter left, but it's started to smell funny because I've had it a while. I'm going to make more of an effort to apply it to places other than my cuticles if I buy it again, because the pot is too big for just that use. It was heavy and greasy, but that's kind of to be expected from a cuticle butter. It did improve the appearance of them, though, and before it got old and funky, it smelt beautiful.

The battered Lush pot you see there is Ro's Argan. I used to think the price of this was insane, then I bought a tub with my Mystery Shopper store credit, then I asked for a tub for Christmas, and then I bought my own. And will do so again. I don't mind the price now because there's nothing which compares to it. It leaves your skin so moisturised, so soft, and so deliciously scented.

Original Source has been a favourite shower gel brand of mine for years. Their lime one is one of my all time favourites. So I was pretty pleased when they came out with a mango one. It smells just like the fruit, and I've already stocked up.

I've been through more of the Superdrug Colour Effects Conditioning Colours. More than the one bottle featured. They just transform my hair from so-so auburn to bam auburn. I get a lot of compliments on my hair colour, and these are part of the reason for that. I like all the shades, but mostly use True Chestnut and Mahogany.

I've been through another The Body Shop All In One Face Base in 02. It never looks cakey or powdery; only natural and silky.

There's still product in the ELF Studio Eyebrow Kit in Light, but it was getting a bit gross, so decided to start a new one. It's still one of my favourite eyebrow products after all these years, so I'm sad that I now have to resort to eBay to buy it. Hopefully, they'll launch another UK site.

The Maybelline Gel Eyeliner is everything. If I could only wear one product, it'd be this. It's pigmented, like black black, and it's creamy enough to be easy to work with, but not so creamy that it takes away from the pigment. It also stays put all day, even on my lash line. My favourite brush to use with it is the one it comes with, so that's another bonus, and it's affordable. I don't think there's anything more to say!

The Blistex Intensive Moisturiser is the best lip balm I've ever used, and I'll continue to use it for a very long time. I'd like a heads up if they plan on discontinuing this, because I'll be clearing the shelves.

Do you like any of these products?

EOS Lip Balms

I've had these lip balms for a while, and am half way through Sweet Mint, but have never given my thoughts on them before. This is mostly because they've not blown me away, but they're not terrible either; they're just nice.

95% organic, 100% natural, and paraben and petrolatum free. Packed with antioxidant-rich vitamin E, soothing shea butter and jojoba oil, eos keeps your lips moist, soft and sensationally smooth.

The packaging is what drew me, and most people, to these balms in the first place. I really like how they look, but they're not the most practical. They're bulky, and the lip balm itself is very big for your lips, especially when you wear the top down. However, because they're clear, I don't mind if I get some on the skin around my lips. Also, the packaging makes them great little gifts.

The lip balms themselves are moisturising enough, but keep in mind that I don't have dry lips. I don't think they'd do much if I did, and I'd favour my trusty Blistex Intensive Moisturiser.

Sweet Mint (mint) - Smells like spearmint.

Honeysuckle Honeydew (green) - The subtle melon scent of this one is very natural and not too sweet.

Lemon Drop (yellow) - This one has an SPF of 15, and smells like lemon sherbets. Unlike the others, the texture's almost gritty, so isn't the most pleasant to apply. Once on, though, it feels like the others, so it's not too bad.

Summer Fruit (red) - This smells like some kind of fruit juice, and I really like it.

Strawberry Sorbet (pink) - Smells like some kind of chewy sweet, like a Maoam or something.

Pomegranate Raspberry (raspberry pink) - I thought this one would be my favourite, but it's probably my least favourite. It is fruity, but there's also the scent of the ingredients lingering alongside it.

You'd think I was in love with these because I have so many, but it's because I bought them in a bundle from Amazon, making each one £2-3. I initially bought them to give as presents, and I gave a couple away, but have gradually ended up keeping the rest.

I do like these lip balms, but not enough to pay £7 a pop like they are in some stores. It's ridiculous how expensive they are over here in the UK!

New Favourites

Stila Convertible Colour in Hibiscus | £16

I'd had my eye on the Convertible Colours for a while, but didn't want to pay £16 for one, especially because I was so happy with my NYX ones. Then Stila reduced a couple of the colours on their website to £8 with free delivery, and because I prefer warmer shades over bubblegum pinks, I chose Hibiscus. It's an orangey red, and one of the reasons why I've come to love it is because it's nothing like the other shades in my collection. The red shades I have tend to be of the raspberry variety, which I love during the winter. I didn't have a summery red, though, so this has filled that slot. I wasn't expecting it to be as pigmented as it is either. The NYX ones are the most pigmented cream blushes I own, but that's partly because they're so creamy. This is more firm and waxier, but still has incredible colour pay off. The finish is light and fresh, too. Petunia is next on my to buy list.

Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Pads | £12.99

I've just reviewed these (which you can read here), so I won't go into too much detail. Like the face mask in the same range, they leave the surface of my skin feeling smooth, and appear to minimise the appearance of my pores. The solution they're soaked in is also distributed evenly through the tub, so every pad has plenty of product on.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade in Soft Brown | £15

I've also reviewed this recently (here). The colour is a great match for my eyebrows, and once you get used to how pigmented it is, you can create a really natural look. Unlike powder, there's no fall out, and it's going to last a long while. I'm just hoping it doesn't dry out too much!

Bourjois Bronzing Primer | £9.99

You can find my full review of this here. Although it's quite orange in the pot, it blends out so easily, leaving a sunkissed glow. Cream bronzers are hard to find, especially matte ones, so I'm glad I found this. I'd love it if they brought out a cooler shade, though; it'd look more natural under my jaw line when I attempt to contour!

Zoeva 102 Silk Finish Brush | £11.50 on its own (the silver version)

This is the brush I've been using the most from the Rose Golden collection, and I've been using it with my foundation. I prefer it to my Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, and I think that's because it's not as stumpy, so is easier to use around my nose. It's still dense and super soft, but slightly more flexible. It's also prettier, let's be honest!

Flamingo Candles The Melt Crowd | July 2015

I've never signed up to a subscription box before now. You'll get the odd impressive month, but on the whole, I've never thought much of them. They also seem to be getting more and more expensive, with the P&P a separate cost ('only £15! plus £3.95 delivery' so it's £18.95). 

This box, however, is £10 including P&P, contains £16 worth of wax melts, a 20% off code to use for that month, and you receive a free burner with your first box. I use an electric one because I'm not allowed flames where I live, but I still appreciate the gesture.

I love July's box. I actually had my eye on the Raspberry & Salted Caramel and Lemon Curd scents on their website, so I was incredibly happy to see them among the others. Island Breeze and Green Tomato Leaf are The Melt Crowd exclusives, and as weird as it sounds, Green Tomato Leaf is probably one of my favourites. It's very fresh, slightly sweet, and green in the nicest way. I was afraid the scents would all smell artificial, and although many of them are sweet, it's a natural sweetness due to the particular scents. My favourite so far has to be Raspberry & Salted Caramel. I don't know if it smells of raspberries and salt caramel, but it's beautiful. It reminds me of Refreshers, but that could just be me. It packs a punch anyway, and I've only been using half.

I'm already looking forward to August's box, and would recommend it if you're a fan of home fragrance. You can take a look at The Melt Crowd subscription here, and check out the other Flamingo Candles products here.

Nip + Fab Glycolic Fix Pads

Like I said in my Nip + Fab haul, after being impressed with the Glycolic Instant Fix Mask (review here), I wanted to try more from the range. The pads were raved about by many, but I didn't know where their place would be in my routine, because I'd never used a product like them before. My indecisiveness lead to these going from half price to full price, and I instantly regretted it. When I saw them on offer a month or two later, I didn't wait around. I've now been using one pad a day for a couple weeks, so thought I'd let you know how I'm getting on.

Unveil younger-looking skin with our innovative Glycolic Fix. 60 radiance-boosting pads, soaked in exfoliating glycolic acid (2.8%) retexture + resurface skin whilst witch hazel helps to tone. This moisturising formula with hyaluronic acid + soothing blue daisy helps to reveal brighter + smoother looking skin.

These are so quick and easy to use, and the product is equally distributed throughout every pad in the tub. I personally use them after getting out the shower in the evenings, a couple hours before I go bed and moisturise. Although they aren't as strong as the mask, with repeated use, you get the same result. That result is smooth skin with smaller looking pores. I find using these once a day to be enough, but you can use them twice daily if you wish. Once a day will be enough for two months, whereas twice a day will give you a month's treatment, so they're well worth the money.

I prefer these to the mask because they're less messy, and I'll certainly be repurchasing them. I may even buy another tub from Boots now, since they're on offer for £6.49 down from £12.99. Have you tried anything from Nip + Fab's Glycolic Fix range?

Recently Purchased | River Island, H&M, Primark, Accessorize, Zoeva, and More

I rarely buy clothing these days because I'm mostly in uniform or pjs, but I cleared out about 60% of my wardrobe the other day, so there were some gaps to fill.

My sister bought some jeans from River Island not long back, and has been very impressed with them, so I wanted to get a pair. I usually opt for ones of the indigo variety, but like lighter ones in the spring/summer, so chose the ripped, mid wash pair above. These were £35.

I also bought the yellow satchel from River Island for £20 (down from £30). I'd had my eye on it online because I love my smaller yellow satchel from Primark, so was thankful they had plenty available in store. I don't think it's a hugely popular colour, but I wear very simple, plain garments, so like adding a pop of colour in the form of an accessory.

The navy bag is from Accessorize, and was £12.50 down from £25. I love its simplicity, and think it'll be great for work. If you're looking for a new bag, it's worth checking them out because they currently have a sale on. I also picked up a cute pair of socks for £1.75 (down from £3.50), and signed up to their rewards card, which I didn't know they did.

The black and grey speckled cardigan is from H&M, and was £10 down from £24.99. It comes down to my knees, and isn't something I'd normally wear. Saying that, with just a pair of jeans and a vest, it looks really nice.

The striped and grey speckled tees were also from H&M, priced at £6.99 each. You can never have too many good quality, basic t-shirts.

The boots (Primark, £15) are also very unlike me. I normally avoid ankle length boots because they make my feet look huge, but decided to just go for it with these, after my sister insisted my feet didn't look big at all. Just make sure you wear plasters on your ankles - mine are now blistered!

After saying I probably wouldn't buy the Zoeva brushes because it was most likely the rose gold packaging attracting me to the sets, I caved. I initially thought I'd go for the vol. 2 set, but ended up going for the original Rose Golden one because it had more face brushes. £56.95 is a lot, but divided between 8, it's just over £7 a piece, and you receive a case. Only 6 are pictured above because I've sold the other two. I don't wear eyeshadow, so rather than them go to waste, I thought I'd send them on. Once I've used them for a decent amount of time, I'll dedicate an entire post to them, but I will say that they're very soft. The blush brush has shed a few hairs, and I don't get on with the Wing Liner brush for its intended use (better for eyebrows), but I'm happy with everything else so far.

I also bought a load of hair products from the likes of Tresemme, L'Oreal, and John Frieda last week, because I clearly needed more. Some hair products are on clearance in Boots, and they're still included in the 3 for 2 offer, so I paid £7.01 for 9. I've found that each store is different, and the smaller ones are the best, because they don't have room to carry all the lines.

What have you picked up recently?